Very nice! The new design that was adopted was the 6 inch JPK. J63: Army Parachutist Knife. the markings are all the same and in the same place as the originals. Some of the best knives that we know today either came before any of the World Wars or were made because of one or both of those wars. Adolph Kastor, the founder of the Camillus cutlery company, came to the U.S.A at the age of 14. One of the challenges in dating a ka-bar knife that I mentioned above is the loss of original catalogs which these knives were sold with. They might choose to, but be prepared to pay for their skills and knowledge also. In New York City. knife for training and issue. Thanks for filling in the blanks. This was where he first got a taste for cutlery, which would later shape the man he became and the company he launched. This is an early Marbles design with a This knife was popular during the second world war and I will assume that so are the people who knew a lot about it. Co., Olean N.Y.Straight lineNil1897 1909Union Cut. Examine your knife pocket identifying mark on one of the blades. existence. Additionally, synthetic composite materials like Kevlar had not been fully integrated into aircraft construction until the late 1970s and 1980s. While that might make it harder to identify what a true Ka-bar knife is, though, it is a blessing in disguise sometimes. brass rivets, Another Kent with stagged bone and small brass domed I was issued an Ontario Pilot Survival Knife 6-89 in February 1991 during my deployment to Desert Storm and has the same measurements as the 499. Thanks for sharing. Thanks. has the Mark 2 pommel not the M3 version. Keen Kutter etched in blade and tang marked Sharpleigh / Made after march 1985 to 2006. the M3 and the M4 reproductions. I believe the two holes in the blade guard was to dummy cord the knife. Most folks don't know The one on the right pommel nut and screw are brass. That is surely a lot of information to keep track of. Marble produced several thousand knives for field testing and delivered them to the U.S. Air Force between 1957-1959. To re-arrange a genuine item like this would be quite a task. I own one of these knives and recently became interested in its history when one was found in a japanese built WWII tunnel system in a mountain in Northern Luzon, Philippines. down, risers and lines. It would also be much easier to confirm additional details about the knives, not just who made them and when. The Brown family held on for more than half a decade before finally selling the brand again in 1961. can be found quite regularly at just about any gun or knife show. They are the same size which is the size of a Mark I or Jet Fighter Pilot Knife. Make sure to have a line of processes that they took to arrive at whatever timeframe they gave you. It is kind of interesting that the concepts the BuOrd used to formulate the design they wanted for the Mark 1 came from two knives, Pal actually made the Mark 1 closest to the drawing. I viewed the ransacked show room 5665 J86: Prototype dated 3/25/1942 made for the Army No date or manufacturer is stamped anywhere. The rarest USMC knife in It is well preserved and stored away since my discharge in 1966. I'll leave it at this, there is some conjecture out there on what these knives might or might not be. So, whats unique about the history of the Camillus knives? knife that was adopted. It doesn't get much better then this one. Some of the knives have no branch of service marking on them. The sharpening stone shall be fabricated from silicon carbide, grain size 280, hardness P, vitrified bond. The knife has been in continuous service with the Department of Defense for over sixty years. If you are interested in the Camillus M4 Thanks for your response. Here is an earlier & longer pilot (aircrew) survival knife by Camillus aka, the Folding Bolo- Army Air Corp Emergency Machete a.jpg Army Air Corp Emergency Machete.jpg Here it is folded- Army Air Corp Emergency Machete j.jpg You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post. Ontarios model became the Aircrew Survival and Egress Knife, System (ASEK) based on the published requirements by the U.S. Army. Has can openers, awl, driver. To recuperate some of the money that they had spent producing blades and knife components, Marble offered a civilian version of the knife to the public in 1961. by orvet Tue May 28, 2013 1:20 pm, Post Both have black plastic pommel. Enjoy and See you on the trail! silver. 1937. 5665 J68: Unknown so far, unable to find the S card the The primary document that describes the various features of the Air Force Survival Knife is Military Specification MIL-K-8662 (16 October 1953). Since the manufacturers maintained it themselves, its a reasonably accurate way to tell the era that a knife came from. I may also be able to confirm if the knife was a gift from my uncle who worked on helicopter camera equipment in the Vietnam war. I know my knives - maybe not as well as my mother - but enough to write helpful guides for you. Hi. steel domed rivets. by Colonel666 Sun May 26, 2013 1:43 am, Post This is a testimony to the ingenuity of the design team that developed the knife at the Marbles company. Camillus produced the Jet Pilot Survival Knife with a 5-inch blade from 1961-2006. Step 2: Read the markings You could find either the USMC or USN MK2 marking on the knife. The original design of this 5" blade is, I believe, a pre-war Marbles design which was known as the "Ideal", a #45. touched them in anyway, as you see them is how they were in the showroom. I have sent you an email to see how I may be able to help. Thanks for taking the time to read. You will also find examples of the otherwise same knife only with the blade finished bright. Never knew that opinions could be this varied. Frank explained that Camillus made 4 versions of this blade, 3 of which were adopted by the military. I am trying to find any information on a 7 inch U.S. Camillus. 5665: Early 12/29/1939 prototype of the new Camillus design The one I have comes with a green pouch that went on the vest and the leather sheath was sewn into the pouch. Ive bookmarked your site and Im including your RSS feeds to my Google account. The Marine Corps then also renamed the knife the USMC Mark 2 Combat Knife. Co.Arc-shapedUSA, or Union; Stainless1912 1925Tidioute CUT. and it's variations check out Gary Cunningham's Bayonet Points # 8 right here Bayo Points 8 5684 S50: Dated 8/21/1945 this design uses the Mark 2 blade, View all posts by Major Hykr. Hand marked on the It appears that in 2006, Ontario Knife Company became the current vendor to the DoD of the Jet Pilot Survival Knife under the National Stock Number (NSN): 7340-00-098-4327. I have never seen that variation. The business was run by a handful of businessmen who, for one reason or the other, went out of business by 1900. pins marked Kent, As above with different tang markings, still a Kent. I believe before it made its way into the survival kit it went on the ALSE vest. These bayonets are very similar to the originals so you need to check The genesis of the Air Force Survival Knife goes back to the 1950s at the dawn of the jet age. Example would be you have crashed landed and might be on your side up in the air. 43 knives in total, all from the showroom. That way, you have a more realistic approach to what you can expect and you dont beat yourself up if its looking harder than usual to pin a date on that fine, historic knife. You are using an out of date browser. Camillus is an old name in American knife making, tracing its roots to 1876. In the guides to dating Schrade knives, dating kissing crane knives, and knowing what era your ka-bar knife is from, there were a lot of years to deal with. Thanks, Dwain. They are back again and better then ever. Ontarios knife became procured by the U.S. Army and was issued a National Stock Number, NSN: 1095-01-530-0833 within the Federal Supply System. But you have an injury to your arm. The OP had such and an easy question, one would think. Camillus was on contract to make Buck knives from 1968 after Schrade stopped making them. Show me your knife, and I'll tell you who you are. It is possible that the knife may have been purchased commercially and not issued through the supply chain. SKIP. If you have any of those knives, it wouldnt be out of place to salute it for its commendable service. Price $15,000.00, #5665 L66: This is the prototype for the WW II Army Air Here you will find information and tips on outdoor activities, wilderness safety and survival, equipment, first aid, health, and other related items of interest to hikers, backpackers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. What is interesting is the knife is called an Air force pilot survival knife. After vetting the information against the published government standards for this knife and the government procurement process, what emerged was a unique story of an iconic knife that has found its way from the military to the civilian outdoor world and into the hearts of many owners and users. this one, it should be a fantastic story to be uncovered one day. Going into 1944, treatment of the blades became more prevalent in the manufacture. The knife company was resurrected in 2009, and they continue to use the last tang stamp till today. I had the Colonial and Geneva knives flipped the wrong way, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. S-6541 marked Guarded Version stagged Rosewood with brass pins marked Kent S-6541 marked, Another as above As above with different tang markings, still a Kent Now, contractors didn't just immediately stop what they were doing and make the transition, they continued with the existing product before the transition. After the war, Camillus soon shifted back to civilian cutlery, but they were now facing stiff competition from overseas companies. For some reason or other I always thought the bright, lack of USN, Camillus blades were a late production, or post war variation. My question is based upon the fact that the handle is not the leather disks type that Im used to seeing as Ive owned several, this knife in question has black plastic or rubber washers on the handle instead. It was in a jungle behind Officers housing on a Navy base, sealed inside an ammo can with some other items. The way that Camillus 5733 knives are marked can give us a general idea of when the knife was made. By contrast, the current DoD procurement process is much more refined and regulated. Phillip; That stamp is different than the one used earlier. qualified technician to remove the surface rust and dirt on them. The pommel screw in the middle looks to be steel, but nut is brass. I have a one of the knives that came out of a survival kit. The company manufactured Camillus branded knives and was a prolific contractor for other knife brands up until its last days in 2007 when the company filed for bankruptcy. The handle should fold out to cover the entire blade edge. by MITCH RAPP Mon May 27, 2013 5:42 pm, Post Great knife for camping or scouting I carried mine on walks in the woods. This blog was how do you say it? I believe youre more interested in dating the vintage ones, though, so the other era guides on that list are best suited to your needs. It is knives like these that make some people on the outside question why Case knives are so expensive when they are just a great value for their money. The other contractors made the Mark 1 in their own convenient way but conform to the basic guidelines which were granted approval. It was common for everything in a survival vest to have a lanyard. For a knife that has been around for more than 120 years now, you also know that it would have changed hands a lot of times. Here are some ways to identify a fake Camillus knife: If youre in the market for a vintage Camillus knife, make sure you know how to tell the real deal apart from the repros. I dont believe they were pinned in that era. It was made from a spring off a model T. The sheath was made from a leather belt off a steam tractor. Curiously enough, my knife does not have the Camillus trademark name stamp anywhere on the knife or the sheath. Dated 10/30/1941. Camillus Tang Stamps and Dates (www.bladeforums.com) Camillus Tang Stamps circa 1915-1946 -A WORK IN PROGRESS (AAPK-All About Pocket Knives) . What is the white dot on the handle? Im not a fan of social media and dont use it. However it was a cheap copy of low quality steel! To put things in context, it is estimated that there have been, at least, 200 different Ka-bar knife stamps in use since the late 1890s. Dear Major,I have had this knife for 30 years when I picked one up at local sporting goods store ,it served me well but, sadly had it stolen a few years ago.my question is how to safely (without too much damage to tang or butt plate (large nut square hole) to change handle ? USMC Raider reproduction with fine pewter handle. larger pommel version we all know. Boy Scout Knife, Camillus Manufacturer, Whittler's Knife, used, blades in great condition but shank shows wear (CSE06) Please refer to the pictures for condition grading. Both have dark what I believe is blued blades. If you dont find your stamp and logo from there, use the official stamp/ logo guide from the official Ka-bar website as seen below: There is a lot that you can tell about the Ka-bar knife from the markings on the blade. However, this was not the end of the aging Air Force Survival Knife. Thanks! Okay, maybe not fakes. It is WW II era and dual tang marked and etched. The handle was cut from the same belt using a sharpened piece of steel tubing to make washers then tightened down with a nut off an old tractor head. Can't recall seeing. The M3 was originally designated for issue to soldiers not otherwise equipped with a bayonet. Engineers. 5679 L36: WW II Army Air Corps knife. It is said to have been used on knives manufactured from the early 1930s to the mid 1940s. With areas like Germany, Italy, China, and the rest of the world getting the praises for coming up with truly timeless knives, the USA takes the glory for this one. Mine is a well-worn obviously military example, with a grey pommel top and worn leather sheath with steel tip. The blade design is different then the factory or used by them. If you happen to have, Read More How to Date A Case Kodiak Knife by Yourself (Expert Advice)Continue, If you have spent some time here before, then we have dated some pretty amazing knives together. Interesting information. Entertaining and informing. storage. With decades of experience under his belt, Adolph spearheaded the growth and expansion of the Camillus knife company into what we know it as today. This resulted in a long line of impressive, sturdy knives that have become vintage and collectors items today. This causes a lot of confusion, Tyler, but the pommel peen is a better method to determine the WW2 knife. In all other ways, it totally resembles the pilots survival knife distributed to the military in the 1950s. You mentioned the Ontario KNife Company briefly in the article. It was later made with an etch on the blade "Sportsman" What had occurred was corrosion issues, through the second half of 1943, there was a lot of discussion from the BuOrd and contractors to remediate the issue. Where neither is possible, its best to stay away. The earliest Camillus factory experimental 6 inch Jet Pilot A second fungicidal product was registered in 1967. I have one but cant find anything about it. That same year, the Marble-Arms Corporation (now known as Marbles) began work on designing their prototype for the survival knife based on the government specifications. The Ontario Knife Company identifies this knife as the 499 Air Force Survival Knife on their website. The shady ones might lie about the real timeline of your knife so that they can under-price it and steal it from you. We place the WW II era It looks exactly like the survival knife from the air force. I had suspected that was the case but did not have any evidence. I havent had the opportunity to measure it as its not in my possession and never was, I simply saw it. They did not adopt this knife, as we know the M3 was The design features for this knife came about through various inputs from servicemembers, survivability researchers, and training developers. Sweeping grind. This is usually where I first look at when dating knives. Cole would soon file for bankruptcy in 1982, selling the Ka-bar brand assets to American Consumer Products, subsequently moving the new headquarters to Solon OH. - Knives That Make the Cut, Why this Air Force blade is a workhorse of military survival knives | AI WAR NEWS, Why this Air Force blade is a workhorse of military survival knives Armed Forces Connect, Ontario Knife Company 499 Air Force Survival Knife (Review) 2022 Veteran Headlines, The 12 Most Common Items in A Survival Kit, Top 10 U.S. Military Gear For Backpackers. We have been told these knives were carried by various elite the Camillus designs submitted for testing. As a flight equipment Marine. selected. Even if the Ontario Knife Company discontinues their production and the DoD phases them out of their inventories, the knife will be around for commercial purchase. Copyright 2004-2023 allaboutpocketknives.com, AAPK Tips and Tricks -- An Illustrated FAQ Forum on Steriods, Knife Lore - Traditional Knives From the Old Days, Canal Street Cutlery Collector's Forum, Cattaraugus Cutlery Collector's Forum, Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC) Collector's Forum, Robeson Cutlery Company Collector's Forum, Schatt & Morgan Knife Collector's Forum, Knife Related Creation, Modification, And Restoration Forums. In 1983, this registration was amended to add the use of the product for incorporation into cork insulation for military use. of Tom Williams, Camillus factory historian, I have assembled the small file transitional Camillus WW2 pilots knife.jpg. It's easy! knives under boxes and paperwork. A few members here have posted examples of that knife with the typical Camillus Mark 1 hilt and the fullered blade normally associated with the 5 inch pilots knife, but yes they don't show up too often. And, just above Japan is stamped Sportsword, perhaps the manufacturer of this copy? Due to the change in ownership of the brand, and the fact that we have some information on what the changes happened, we can use the tang stamps to know when the knife was made. This prototype is date 5/13/1954. As with many uses of military equipment, service members use considerable ingenuity in the field when employing their equipment and therefore, the use of the holes in the blade guard for cordage lashing points may have been a field expedient use of the knife rather than as an intentionally designed purpose. Think of it this way, property markings came later in the assembly process only after a formal guidelines were established. http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/295814-5-inch-hunting-and-sheath-knives/?hl=%2Bpilots+%2Bknife&do=findComment&comment=2377348, http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/111421-odd-camillus-usn-mark-1/?hl=%2Bpilots+%2Bknife&do=findComment&comment=830644, http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/200448-questions-on-a-bright-blade-camillus-mark-1/. It used to be a standard piece of gear for anyone, including backpackers, who was a serious outdoorsman and wilderness adventurers back in the 1970s and 1980s, before the Rambo movies made popular the Rambo-type survival knife. Hi Bruce: forces. Do you have any information on this kind of knife ever being produced? Well I got my first one from and Army Helicopter pilot in Germany 1963. My name is Steve and i live in Australia..I have recently started collecting knives from the Vietnam era..I just purchased 1 on ebay but the more i try to confirm the sellers claim the more i become frustrated and confusedplease help me. Enjoy! Now, the efficacy of this model relies on having an antique book (or maybe a knife expert with access to such a book) that you can date the knife with. Knife Center.com has them in stock. is the only one that survived the Marines. business. With a decline in the number of such people, it becomes more challenging to get original information on what a ka-bar knife is, and when it made the market. Challenges of Dating a Ka-Bar knife properly, Multiple Methods to Dating a Ka-bar Knife, Method #1 Identify the Logo/ Tang Stamp, Stainless Steel; or UNION CUT CO. & OLEAN, N. Y, The stamp font is thin and shallow, compared to the non-WW2 options, The blade has a darker patina rather than being powder coated, WW2 knife pommels are peened on the knife, not pinned.

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